A06492:555
Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians
A commentary of M. Doctor Martin Luther upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians first collected and gathered word by word out of his preaching, and now out of Latin faithfully translated into English for the unlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...A commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther vpon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galathians first collected and gathered vvord by vvord out of his preaching, and novv out of Latine faithfully translated into English for the vnlearned. Wherein is set forth most excellently the glorious riches of Gods grace ...
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling wihtin sic, 1575London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier dvvelling vvihtin sic, 1575
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now, after that he hath sufficiently proved, and with two strong arguments confirmed this article, that Christian righteousness cometh not by keeping of the law, but by faith in Christ, and withal hath confuted the doctrine of the false Apostles: in the midst of this discourse he turneth his talk to the Galatians, 1and reproveth them, saying: O ye foolish Galatians. &c. As if he should say: Alas, from whence are ye fallen, O ye miserable Galatians? I have most carefully and diligently taught you the truth of the Gospel, and ye also have received the same of me with fervent zeal and great diligence. How then cometh it to pass, that ye are so suddenly fallen away from it? who hath bewitched you?
Now, after that he hath sufficiently proued, and with two strong arguments confirmed this article, that Christian righteousnes cometh not by keeping of the law, but by faith in Christ, and withall hath confuted the doctrine of the false Apostles: in the middes of this discourse he turneth his talke to the Galathians, 1and reproueth them, saying: O ye foolish Galathians. &c. As if he should say: Alas, from whence are ye falne, O ye miserable Galathians? I haue most carefully and diligently taught you the truth of the Gospell, and ye also haue receaued the same of me with feruent zeale and greate diligence. How then cometh it to passe, that ye are so suddainly falne away from it? who hath bewitched you?
- 1O ye foolish Galatians.O ye foolish Galathians.
1He rebuketh the Galatians very sharply (as it seemeth) when he calleth them fools, bewitched, and disobedient to the truth. Now, whether he did this of zeal or compassion, I will not here contend: both may be true. A carnal man would interpret this to be a reviling rather then a godly reprehension. Did Paul then give an evil example, or was he spiteful against the churches of Galatia because he called them foolish and bewitched? No, not so. For with a Christian zeal it is lawful for an Apostle, pastor, or preacher sharply to reprove the people committed to his charge: